Name: Leo TemoryAge: 27Hometown: Torrance, Calif.Previous Seasons: Season 23Current occupation: Founder/Owner of New York Deli & The SpeakeasyDescribe what you do: I am a restaurateur and in the business of making sure people are never hungry and never thirsty.Biggest mistake you made in your previous season: By far the biggest mistake I made was during the leg in Japan while I was constructing the robot. We had just gone from being last in the previous leg to first in Japan. I finished the robot before the other three teams but when I was putting the arms in the torso, I accidentally turned them around and by the time I figured out what I had done wrong, the other three teams had finished and we were eliminated.Most memorable moment from your first Race: The most memorable part of season 23 was definitely the leg in Indonesia while I was constructing the angklung with all the students. For a brief moment, it put the race on pause for me and it felt like I was back in school. I wasn't in a hurry to complete the road block, I just wanted to enjoy the moment and entertain all the students. With all the good energy we received from the students, we ending up finishing the roadblock first and coming in first place! I'm actually starting an angklung store here in Los Angeles now, haha!Favorite place you visited on your first season: My favorite place I visited in my first season was between Lisbon and Abu Dhabi. The history and people in Lisbon were amazing, and I could definitely see myself living there. On the other hand seeing the amazing advances, buildings, and technology in Abu Dhabi was breathtaking. Not only were those places great places to visit, they were also the places we had the most fun in!Why do you want to run the Race again? I want to run the race again because I have to redeem myself. Jamal and I are so competitive in our day to day lives, it was so hard to go all the way to the end, and to go out the way we did. It's almost like making it to the Superbowl and missing the game winning field goal. We hate losing, and we lost in the most upsetting way. Not to mention it’s an experience of a lifetime, and to be given the opportunity to do again is amazing, I cannot wait to interact with all the different cultures, visit more amazing countries, and drop a dash of the “afghanimal” spirit everywhere we go!How have you changed since the last time you competed? I've been the same ever since I was born, however this time around I am more knowledgeable about how the race is run, how to interact with the different team members and I know how to build a robot.What are you passionate about? I am passionate about traveling, cooking, friends, family, being active, film, sports, fashion, business, and being entrepreneurial and coming up with new and innovative ideas. My brain never seems to stop working.People would be surprised to learn: People would be surprised to learn how humorous and genuine we are. I love to live life to the fullest and want to show the world and everyone we interact with that, yes, we are running the most competitive race in the world, but at the same time, we're staying true to our roots and not losing focus on what makes us who we are. Expect lots of fun, out of the ordinary, entertaining from the “afghanimals!”Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together: The biggest challenge Jamal and I will face is communicating with one another. Communication is key to every healthy relationship, whether it be between a husband and wife, coach and player or two cousins racing around the world. We are definitely communicating better every day, but since we are both so aggressive and competitive sometimes we can bump heads, but we get over it really fast.Pet peeve about your teammate: My biggest pet peeve about my cousin is the fact that sometimes he doesn't listen. We both are hard headed and we both want to do things our own way. But we are a team, and compromises have to be made.What country and place would you most like to visit and why? I would love to visit Spain! The way of life in Spain is something that I can relate to and I could see myself living there in the near future. The people there are some of the nicest people I have ever met, and I also speak Spanish so that would help!What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? I hope to finish the Race. We came so close last time. I hate not finishing something that I start, and to be given another opportunity to run the Race is a blessing. This time I'm going to finish and hopefully at the same time, entertain the entire world!Any strategic changes you will make heading into this Race: This time around we will be a little more careful of what we say and who we say it to. We want to make sure everyone gets to know us first before we start racing and becoming super competitive. Plus, we do not want to get u-turned twice again. In the beginning of our last season, we were unfortunately portrayed as being sneaky and manipulative, which wasn't the case. Certain teams didn't understand our humor and how we were running the race.

Name: Jamal ZadranAge: 26Hometown: Irvine, Calif.Previous Seasons: Season 23Current occupation: Owner, Z.I.G (Zadran Investment Group)Describe what you do: I run my own private investment group, specializing in real estate and the automobile industry. Zadran Investment Group operates an independent dealership to sell cars to the public, buys and flips homes in the Southern California area, and operates as a reality firm to the public. We also manage equity portfolios with trading of stocks, bonds and forex, and options.Biggest mistake you made in your previous season: Showing our competitiveness to other teams, making us the biggest threat of the race.Most memorable moment from your first Race: The first-hand experience of racing around the world and interacting with different people and their cultures.Favorite place you visited on your first season: Austria and Portugal are at the top of my list of favorite places because of how beautiful the cities looked as we were racing. They’re both so rich in history, and definitely places I would want to visit in the future with my wife.Why do you want to run the Race again? I feel like we have some unfinished business to take care of. The way we went out the last race was kind of unfair and out of our hands.How have you changed since the last time you competed? Nothing much has changed! We’re still crazy, funny, cool guys who enjoy life!What are you passionate about? I’m very passionate about winning and trying not to make any mental mistakes.People would be surprised to learn: That I can speak four different languages and used to be a linguist. So picking up new languages in a new country in a very short time shouldn’t be too hard!Biggest challenge you and your teammate will face on The Race together: The other competitors on the Race. Some are back for the 3rd time and there is no team we will take for granted.Pet peeve about your teammate: He can be sensitive to criticism and at times can be stubborn.What country and place would you most like to visit and why? I would like to visit some African nation with all wild animals. To have any challenge where we interact with animals is always fun. Also, I love lions, tigers and bears … Oh My!!What do you hope to accomplish by running The Race (other than winning one million bucks)? I want to be able to say that competing with the best of the best was challenging, but I was able to perform and bring my “A” game! Any strategic changes you will make heading into this Race: I am going to try not to be such a big target to other teams and take it easy so we aren’t shown as threats to the race.

« Last Edit: January 28, 2014, 06:22:26 AM by georgiapeach »

Logged

"Our fans are pretty good. They don't give away too much. Sometimes people love dropping spoilers, but our fans are good. They tend to do it in such a way that doesn't ruin it for fans who don't want to know."--Phil Keoghan

"Our fans are pretty good. They don't give away too much. Sometimes people love dropping spoilers, but our fans are good. They tend to do it in such a way that doesn't ruin it for fans who don't want to know."--Phil Keoghan

"Our fans are pretty good. They don't give away too much. Sometimes people love dropping spoilers, but our fans are good. They tend to do it in such a way that doesn't ruin it for fans who don't want to know."--Phil Keoghan

Probably my favorite team announced for All-Stars. Energetic, funny, smart, strong...they've got this in the bag. Love their professional attitude towards things...calming down would help them a bunch.

I was pretty neutral to the Afghanimals throughout Season 23 but the last few legs they actually were a good team and I did find myself rooting for them. Hopefully they continue that during this season.

Amongst this pretty horrid cast, they're actually one of my faves And I strongly disliked them last season, except for the few last episodes... But seriously, they're much easier to watch this time around and despite their little argument with NaNa, I think they're also not annoying!

I love these guys, and loved them on their original season. They seem even more competent now, and argue less with each other. I particularly like their enthusiasm for nearly every aspect of racing, and the warmth, affection and gratitude they unfailingly show the locals.

I think at least they are entertaining. Like, they had their down moments of struggling, then excelling on some legs, then failing at some. Alike Brenchel and JJ and Margie/Luke and Country Singers. As compared to Cowboys who whine at second places and Dave and Connor who talked about their injury when they don't win legs, and TALK ABOUT THEIR INJURIES AGAIN when they win legs. Ew.

Globbies are delivering this season by totally being underdogs and struggling this season as well <3

GOSH, it's such a rollercoaster with them.I HATED them for the first half (& a bit more) of TAR23, them suddenly fell a bit inlove.Now I really liked them in the beginning of this season, but seriously the last couple of episodes they're annoying the hell out of me. In all the seasons of all reality shows I've seen, there have NEVER been such camera-whore-ish people...

I didn't like them last season, I thought they were playing dirty, but they have totally grown on me, I have fun watching them, I'm a bit mad that they are now racing with an injury because of a direct aggression by production... I don't know it just rubs me the wrong way... I hope they get tu run the last leg just because of this.

I didn't like them last season, I thought they were playing dirty, but they have totally grown on me, I have fun watching them, I'm a bit mad that they are now racing with an injury because of a direct aggression by production... I don't know it just rubs me the wrong way... I hope they get tu run the last leg just because of this.

I feel like they got such a bad rap last season - it's not like they took the cluebox and threw it in the water, they just withheld telling teams that they used their U-Turn - I would do the same, because then people still fear you U-Turning them if you're in front at the latter end of the race.

That said, this time they've been the nicest dudes out there, and very smart strategically as that was likely their one shot to knock the cowboys out of the running. Here's hoping Jamal's injury is nothing or that he grits his teeth through it to at least make F3.

It's a shame that the Afghanimals didn't make the final three :/ They raced a strong race and were my favourite M/M team of the Season. They got ChaChaCha'd and like the Cha's were the humorous and energetic team. While I think that two chances to win the Race are enough, I wouldn't be surprised if they returned for a third race I mean they were the only eliminated team to get a closing montage. But yeah Leo & Jamal, Great turn around from the last race. Became huge fans of them and wished they had been the M/M team to make the final three.

It's a shame that the Afghanimals didn't make the final three :/ They raced a strong race and were my favourite M/M team of the Season. They got ChaChaCha'd and like the Cha's were the humorous and energetic team. While I think that two chances to win the Race are enough, I wouldn't be surprised if they returned for a third race I mean they were the only eliminated team to get a closing montage. But yeah Leo & Jamal, Great turn around from the last race. Became huge fans of them and wished they had been the M/M team to make the final three.

I really liked them this time, but by Leg 7 they were in my Top 3 because all of my favourites bar Brenchel and Country were eliminated :/

I like them, but unlike the other racers in this season (NaNa, True Bopper/Mark and Gallory, Joey/Meghan (Never Happening TBH lol), J/J), I wouldn't exactly be happy to see them again for a third time.

Logged

"I already told youTrust and respect is what we do this forI never intended to be next"

Leo and Jamal answer fan questions about their U-Turn decision, if they regret helping Jennifer and Caroline, and if they'd run the race again!

Heather R.: Do you regret not using the U-turn now on Rachel and Brendon?Leo: Hey Heather, I don't regret it, it was a calculated decision between Jamal and I that took a lot of focus and discussion. We were going to U-turn either Brendon and Rachel or Jet and Cord, when it came down to it. The accidental alliance was only with Jen and Caroline and Dave and Connor, and after Jamal hurt his knee it had to be the cowboys because 1) they were a very strong team and 2) they were in last with Jen and Caroline and we had to make sure that they stayed in it. However, after watching that episode it didn't even matter because they were already in last place.

Sahar S.: Leo and Jamal, man, you guys were my favorite team! You were so funny and motivated to win, what would you have done with the million dollars had you won it?Leo: Thanks Sahar, I really appreciate it. If we had won, it would have been great and I would have opened up a business or two in the nightlife field. I own a bar in Pasadena and always wanted to open a nightclub in Hollywood so we'll see. I have a lot of new projects coming together soon so stay tuned. Might be running for Mayor too! #voteforleo2015

Danielle Z.: Do you regret helping the girls at all? Would you do it again if given the choice?Leo: Hey Danielle, I don't regret helping the girls at all, they were the sweetest and most humble girls I have ever met and I would help them again in a heartbeat. It doesn't show, but they helped us a lot as well. I love our country girls!

Payton J.: Who was your favorite team you raced against this season?Leo: Hey Payton, that is such a hard question, it was All-Stars for a reason and it would be difficult to pick just one. I was honored and privileged to have raced with all of them. They were all my favorite and I mean that, I still keep in touch with almost everybody!

Carolyn S.: So sad to see you go! You guys always had fun and enjoyed the race. Out of all the places you visited, which was the most interesting and why?Leo: Hey Carolyn, thank you! I would say the most interesting was Orvieto, Italy. The way of life was just so amazing there, everyone was really gracious and hospitable and it was gorgeous, I definitely want to go back and visit again!

Connor B.: How does it feel to have been this close once again?Leo: Hey Connor! It doesn't feel good I could tell you that. But it wasn't our fault, bad directions finally got to us when it mattered the most. Up until that point our navigational skills kept us in the game, and it is actually kind of ironic that it got us out as well. Final three would have been much better, but to have gotten to race around the world not once, but twice, not to mention back to back, it was amazing and worth a million in itself.

Thomas A.: How awesome was it to play some soccer in Anfield Stadium? (from a fellow soccer fan)Leo: Thomas my man! From soccer fan to soccer fan, Anfield Stadium was breathtaking! When we stepped foot on the field we got goose bumps. The energy there, although empty, was radiating. I think I might change professions and become a professional soccer player! PS hopefully liverpool gets the top spot, next season! Good Luck!

Vee T.: Would you do The Amazing Race all over again, if gotten the chance?Leo: Hey Vee, we would be honored to run the race for a third time! You know what they say third times a charm so bring it on!